From the 1st century to today, you could say the magnet is one component of technology that has stuck around.
With that bad pun out of the way (two if you count the headline), a Hong Kong company is using the simple magnet to make the charging of our smartphones easier and faster. The MagCable is a USB cable with a magnetic end that snaps into place thanks to an adapter tip that plugs into your charging port.
There is even a Lightning magnet adapter for iPhone and charging can be sped up by a button on the cable that shuts off data sync.
The makers of the cable, aMagic, are trying to raise more than $76,000 on Kickstarter to begin production. For $12, a backer can get a MagCable and the adapter tip to match their smartphone.
The MagCable could be useful in a car, where the driver can just snake the cable end near the port and feel for the snap in order to avoid the distraction of a more involved plug-in.
Photo: aMagic
The cord is one meter long, includes a light to indicate charge status and works with Android micro USB and iPhone Lightning connections. The company has even make available a Lightning Magnet Adapter for regular iPhone cables.
It also works on tablets, like the iPod, as well as Bluetooth speakers, wireless gaming controls and MP3 players.
If funding goals are met, aMagic, which makes other accessories like speakers, an action camera and power banks, can begin shipping the MagCable by November. The company is also hoping to get Apple MFi certification.
David Pierini is a former newspaper writer and long-time photographer. Considered a luddite by most of his friends, they did not believe him when he broke the news that he would be writing for a technology website. He is fascinated by human nature and would love to cultivate stories about the people driving the tech bus. Reach out to him at [email protected].
13 responses to “You can’t help but be attracted to this magnetic Lightning cable”
“It also works on tablets, like the iPod” – I think you meant iPad. This is pretty cool, regardless.
Interesting because this was already done on Kickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1041610927/znaps-the-9-magnetic-adapter-for-your-mobile-devic
Looked like ZNAPS already beat them to it… https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1041610927/znaps-the-9-magnetic-adapter-for-your-mobile-devic
looks like they stole the idea from the ZNAPS campaign https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1041610927/znaps-the-9-magnetic-adapter-for-your-mobile-devic?ref=nav_search
Not cool of them.
They should sell adapters that fit on your existing cables too.
If you get the Znaps they are adapter that fit on the end of your existing cables.
Right, but I’d still have to buy 4 adapters.
Yet another kickstarter. Please stop posting these, kickstarters are non starters until they actually ship, which 99% of the time is never on time.
From the info ZNaps is sending they are doing just fine with their timelines. Others may have faultered but so far I have back 5 projects and all have shipped or are on track to ship on time.
Agree completely and I was just about to post the same comment until I saw yours. I backed ZNaps and bought a lot to give to family and friends.
Same here, i always think its pretty disgusting when a well funded kickstarter gets instantly regurgitated, They’re even charging more!! (no pun intended)
Do you guy even do a little research before posting things?
Like everyone else has posted, this is an imitation/rip-off of Znaps. I even told you guys about Znaps a few months ago on twitter…